Hacks on Tap with David Axelrod and Mike Murphy

John Heilemann, executive editor of The Recount and host of the Hell & High Water podcast, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the political ramifications of the new coronavirus variant, whether the Biden administration should wade into the culture wars, and the shocking normalization of political violence in this country. Plus, Murphy introduces us to the one and only Uncle Walt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Veteran Republican pollster and strategist Tony Fabrizio joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the long-awaited signing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill into law, whether the legislation will have a measurable impact on upcoming elections, the political implications for rising prices, and this week’s “WTF” moment.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss the disconnect between the positive economic indicators and Americans’ pessimism about the state of the country, the passage of the infrastructure bill and the messaging opportunities and challenges it presents for the Biden administration, and the Hacks experience their own supply chain issues live on air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy assemble to discuss Election Day 2021, including the rough night for Democrats, the impact of national politics on local races, the reset Democrats—and Biden—need in order to avoid huge losses in the midterms, and whether Glenn Youngkin has successfully cracked the code when it comes to GOP success in the Trump era.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Wasserman, US House editor of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the final stretch of the Virginia governor’s race, the impact of Democrats’ actions—or lack thereof—in Congress on the upcoming election, and the latest redistricting developments and projections for the midterms. Plus, Wasserman reveals how he came up with his iconic phrase, “I’ve seen enough.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week the hacks look into their crystal ball with former Virginia Congressman Tom Davis to discuss Virginia’s upcoming gubernatorial election. Then, they time travel to figure out how Biden can make big moves to pass his infrastructure bill and how the 2022 midterms could effect leadership positions in both the Democratic and Republican Party. Plus, Murphy taps into his artistic side when he answers a listener question from the mailbag! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Steve Israel, former Congressman and future bookshop owner, joined Axe and Murphy to talk about Trump’s endorsement of Chuck Grassley, Trump’s power over the GOP and how Dems can use it to fuel turnout in 2022, the Virginia Governor’s race, never-ending negotiations on the hill, and much more!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy are together again (and full of puns) to discuss Biden hitting the road to tout his “Build Back Better” plan, the debt ceiling debacle, Trump’s upcoming trip to Iowa, and the latest in Virginia’s gubernatorial race.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Anzalone, a longtime Democratic pollster who polls for President Biden, joins Gibbs and Murphy to talk about this “eventful” week in Washington. The Hacks discuss Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s latest plan for the infrastructure bill and the Democrats’ reconciliation bill, how the events of this week might impact messaging for the 2022 midterm elections, and President Biden’s approval rating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Martin, a national political correspondent for The New York Times, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the rift between progressive and moderate Democrats over the size and scope of their economic agenda, the latest example of Trump’s grip on the Republican Party, and whether foreign policy matters to voters.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dana Bash, CNN’s chief political correspondent, co-anchor of State of the Union, and host of the new podcast Total Recall: California’s Political Circus, joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss the results of the California recall election and the key takeaways for Democrats’ messaging as we head into the midterms. The Hacks also cover the latest on the Democrats’ social spending package and ponder whether Independents are truly independent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peter Hamby, host of Snapchat’s Good Luck America and founding partner of and contributor to Puck, joins Gibbs and Murphy for a deep dive into the upcoming recall election in California, including how the effort to remove Governor Gavin Newsom from office came to be and their predictions about whether he survives. Plus, the Hacks discuss Texas’ new abortion ban and its impact on the 2022 midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Axe and Gibbs are joined by Bill Kristol, editor-at-large of The Bulwark, to discuss the public perception and political ramifications of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the resurgence of COVID and its implications for Biden’s approval rating and beyond, and the needle Nancy Pelosi must thread in order to advance Biden’s agenda.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s all Hacks on deck this week as Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy convene to discuss the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the scenes of panic and chaos in Kabul, Biden’s address to the nation, and the political implications of it all. Plus, the Hacks unpack the latest in the Democrats’ efforts to pass Biden’s economic agenda and the most recent developments in the California recall election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Begala, CNN contributor and former counselor to President Clinton, joins Axe and Murphy to help make sense of not one but two breaking news alerts in the span of one hour. The Hacks discuss the most recent efforts by some members of the GOP to further politicize the pandemic, the resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Senate’s passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and where the legislation goes from here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Private first class hackaroo Mark McKinnon, executive producer and co-host of Showtime’s The Circus, joins Axe and Gibbs to talk about the CDC’s messaging mishaps, the New York Attorney General’s finding that Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed state employees, and how much political currency bipartisanship actually wields.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jackie Calmes, national columnist for the Los Angeles Times and author of Dissent: The Radicalization of the Republican Party and Its Capture of the Court, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the powerful testimony delivered during the opening hearing on the insurrection, the latest bumps in the road for infrastructure negotiations, the impact of the Delta variant on Biden's agenda, and the "Shakespearean" tales playing out around the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Gibbs and Murphy were joined by former Congressman Steve Israel who graciously shared his expertise as a former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair to discuss redistricting, campaign fundraising, and the upcoming 2022 midterms. They also discussed infrastructure negotiations and the (both physical and metaphorical) tools Nancy Pelosi uses to negotiate, Murphy explains his WWII analogy, and more!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Minnesota Senator Al Franken joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the latest lunacy to come out of CPAC, the escalating fight over voting rights and the possibility of a filibuster carve-out, and whether the largest price spike since 2008 will impact negotiations in Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bill Kristol, editor-at-large of The Bulwark and director of Defending Democracy Together, joins Gibbs and Murphy to discuss efforts to increase vaccination rates amid heightened concerns about the Delta variant, the two-track infrastructure legislation, the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Vice President Kamala Harris, and the politics of US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices